Planet

I wasn’t sure what photo I could take of something to represent “planet,” the Flickr prompt for today. So many ideas– a small track of a beetle in the dusty road, or the tracks of quail beneath the rabbitbrush, or that of a rabbit in the snow would work just as well to represent our planet as an image of the Grand Coulee at Dry Falls.

My #FLICKR21CHALLENGE Entry

I will enter the photograph above. See the sun setting on one of its planets, our planet, setting behind the basalt island formed from lava flows millions of years ago, then eroded by massive ice age floods ten thousand years ago while a man and a dog enjoy the planet’s view, standing on granite even older than the lava flows. See the Dry Falls page because that formation in the photo was formed during the ice age floods. For a more in depth story of my spot on our planet, see my post: Elemental.

But, before I chose that picture, I thought about the problems of the world today, I remembered the flag I had mashed together in March of 2021 for the Daily Create– a flag of unity, beneficence, and hope. I decided to add the story of the flag I designed to my idea about “planet,” and you can read about the flag in the copy of my original post, shared below.

About the Planet Flag

Copy of Original Post on my other blog

Note: Day 372 March 20, 2021 of Covid Pandemic

Today’s Daily Create [ @ds106dc #tdc3355] is to mash together flags or symbols for a new flag.

Of course, a generator is provided in the tdc3355 directions/suggestions. Still, if I’m creating a flag, it should mean something to me.

What could be more important than to live together cooperatively and collaboratively on our planet, accepting one another in our differences, and working forward with one another for a better world for all of us, for each of us, for all the creatures of this amazing planet in the universe?

So, I started looking for symbols in Wikimedia Commons and Flickr Commons, using terms such as “peace symbol,” “Peace Flag,” “unity,” “rainbow flag,” etc.

I found exactly the ideals I was looking for that encompass such a vision for our diverse world.

One page that really helped propel my Working Together in Peace Flag is the page, Peace Flag. A lot of history is written in that one page, history of which I had no idea.

Here’s what I found for each part of my flag:

Rainbow Background

The rainbow in my flag stands for how our diversity is a spectrum of the shining light of progress for all on our planet.

This flag was the flag used by the International Cooperative Alliance from 1923 to 2001. The Alliance is non-governmental federation of the cooperative movement across the world, whose values are those of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equity, equality, among others. Their ethics are based in “honest, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.” Comprised of members who are from all sectors of our economic world– agriculture, finance, fishing, health, housing, workers, its history long demonstrates how cooperatives help all people across the globe, as the people’s voice and actions make up the progress and business of each cooperative. Such ideas would fit the vision for what my flag represents.

Small Blue Stars / Dove

This is a small piece, but important piece in my flag. It stands for several ideas. First, the night– our quest is for all time, day and night forever. Second, the dove for peace and for the creatures of the earth– respect for all things on Mother Earth. Third, the stars– we are part of the universe, and the flag represents universal truths and rights.

The source is from one of the symbols for the Peace Corps. Almost 235,000 Americans have served to help other countries since 1961. Although suspended in March, 2020 due to the Coronavirus, the staff are again on duty this March, 2021, ready to get started again.

The World

Originally, I had planned to include this image:

Since the flag is about the planet, the world itself must be represented along with the fruits of the labor of creatures living with land and the sea as we unite together for our survival into the future.

This part of my flag was adapted from the United Nations flag:

The United Nations represents nations in support of peace, security, and human rights. If I were to actually create this flag, I’d need permission for this part. So I searched for and found another type of “world symbol,” this one by Philip Kanellopoulos which represents the oceans and the land, but in a stylized way.

I’ll keep looking for a public domain polar map that includes all the world. I found one on oceans, but it did not fit the idea of where we, as humans, live– on our continental land.

Blue Circle / 3 Dots

The blue circle represents our blue marble, our water-covered, life-giving earth. The yellow dot is life-giving sun, the green are the plants, and the orange is the fertile ground. But it is so much more: it is a unifying of humanity in our humble and grandiose quests to better our world, and to respect that which we were give and that which we have created. We hold together, bound by higher laws that benefit all creatures and people, not a few.

The idea came from the Peace Flag page, the small flag that represents the protection of artistic and scientific institutions and historic monuments that represent our cultural humanity in its diversity. Originally, it was red, taking its color from the idea of the Red Cross– that these places would always be protected and safe. And, of course, the three dots have been found in artifacts created by humans since the Stone Age.

I believe that the best and freely developing social forms of culture can unite creative constructive forces and improve a social life, thereby help the state to maintain high ideals of humanism and peacefulness in the people. …

academician D. S. Likhachev about the Roerich Pact

The symbol is for a “Peace through Culture,” and was the vision of Nicholas Roerick, a Russian painter and philosopher, whose concept meant “defending both domestic and foreign cultural treasures, the instrument maintaining peace and avoiding wars.”

Wings / Clasped Hands

Finally, the representation of humanity, the clasped hands of a man and woman upheld by the wings of a dove represent how we succeed in peace through togetherness.

The emblem came from a symbol from 1890’s in the early work of what would become the International Council of Women. It stands for “For Peace, I Work.” So much history there; it’s worth a read.

And so, my mash up is complete– a flag for planet earth, its human beings, and its creatures.

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?

George Eliot

Desiderata

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

Desiderata, Max Ehrmann

About The Challenge

Flickr’s 21st Birthday Photo Challenge Today’s prompt: Planet

Flickr turns twenty-one this year and I’ve been a member since 2009, for sixteen years. I love Flickr — sharing, albums, descriptions, groups, license choices. It’s a great way to connect and share with others– and stay in charge of your own work.

So, I’ve decided to join the birthday challenge, which follows these prompts. I’ll add a note about the photo in each description. See the Flickr 21 Birthday Challenge Group pool here.

I’ve added these photos to a new album, Challenge Photography, which will hold any photos I take for different challenges. When you click the tag for the challenge #flickr21challenge, you’ll see a list of your own submissions, recently tagged photos, and then all the photos with the tag.

Come along, join the fun!